Are all PAYG phones locked to a network?

lifeisgood

Im looking for a cheap PAYG phone which I can also use as a spare to put my O2 contract sim in if I ever need to.

Done a search here it and it looks like tesco phones are locked. Are any others unlocked?

Kai

I've heard that carphone warehouse sometimes gives you an unlocked phone on their PAYG phones as they use the same stock for their contract deals.

Otherwise, pretty much any PAYG phone with operating branding will be locked to their parent network.

dc

You can look at the top three threads on this board about unlocking phones for free.

Before that I used to get my phones unlocked at the local market for around a fiver per go.

Virgin unlock for "free" after a few top-ups.

mattogier

You could ask for one on Freecycle...

https://www.freecycle.org

and trace to your local group.

I got one when I lost mine.

lifeisgood

Thanks for all your helpful replies.

mattogier wrote: »

You could ask for one on Freecycle...

www.freecycle.org

and trace to your local group.

I got one when I lost mine.

Great advert. im a mod:beer: so already thought of that one but want a new phone.

h901

o2 phones are usually unlocked regardless if they are on pay monthly or pay-as-go

orange phones are 100% of the time locked to orange and will require you to pay them £15 to unlock it

t-mobile phones are 100% of the time locked to t-mobile and will require £20 to unlock the phone

vodafone phones are 100% of the time locked to vodafone and will require you to top-up your mobile with £20 in which they will deduct to send you the unlocking code

virgin phones are 95% of the time locked to virgin and after you've topped up more that £30 in credit they will give you the unlocking code for free

thesaint

h901 wrote: »

o2 phones are usually unlocked regardless if they are on pay monthly or pay-as-go

orange phones are 100% of the time locked to orange and will require you to pay them £15 to unlock it

t-mobile phones are 100% of the time locked to t-mobile and will require £20 to unlock the phone

vodafone phones are 100% of the time locked to vodafone and will require you to top-up your mobile with £20 in which they will deduct to send you the unlocking code

virgin phones are 95% of the time locked to virgin and after you've topped up more that £30 in credit they will give you the unlocking code for free

You are wrong on nearly every count.

h901

thesaint wrote: »

You are wrong on nearly every count.

and how is that??

gaming_guy

h901 wrote: »

and how is that??

99% of o2 payg handsets are locked.

you dont have to go through the operator to get the unlock code. a local shop/market stall should be able to unlock the phone

thesaint

h901 wrote: »

and how is that??

I shall start at the beginning:

h901 wrote: »

o2 phones are usually unlocked regardless if they are on pay monthly or pay-as-go

o2 PAYG phones are 99% locked.

h901 wrote: »

orange phones are 100% of the time locked to orange and will require you to pay them £15 to unlock it

Are you saying every (definition of 100%) Orange phone is locked?

h901 wrote: »

t-mobile phones are 100% of the time locked to t-mobile and will require £20 to unlock the phone

Same as my reply to Orange

h901 wrote: »

vodafone phones are 100% of the time locked to vodafone and will require you to top-up your mobile with £20 in which they will deduct to send you the unlocking code
free

Same as reply to Orange and T-Mobile.

h901 wrote: »

virgin phones are 95% of the time locked to virgin and after you've topped up more that £30 in credit they will give you the unlocking code for free

Not sure why only 95%.



*My percentages are made up

thesaint

sunshine54 wrote: »

Its true. carphone warehouse do sell their PAYG phones unlocked as they are independant of the uk networks. You will however have to buy a top-up for the network who usually discount the true cost of the handset. Then you are free to change the sim when this credit expires if have a better/preferred network.

:j
www.contract-payg.co.uk

Welcome to M.S.E. sunshine54

I have a Nokia phone that was bought from CPW that is 100% locked to Virgin.